New in December

The Restless Dead: Ten Original Stories of the Supernatural: Deborah Noyes: 253 pages

Vampire romantics, grave stalkers, prankster devil worshippers, and others in the world of the undead are featured in a collection of ten spooky tales for young adults written by diverse authors, including Holly Black and Marcus Sedgwick.

Schooled: Gordon Korman: 208 pages

After his hippie grandmother ends up in the hospital, Cap Anderson is forced to leave the commune where he is homeschooled and attend Claverage Middle School, where his odd looks and behavior make him the target of bullies.

A Company of Swans: Eva Ibbotson: 374 pages

A young woman in early twentieth-century England must escape the strict confines of her proper Cambridge family to fulfill her dream of becoming a ballet dancer.

The Black Book of Secrets: F.E. Higgins: 273 pages

When Ludlow Fitch's parents cruelly betray him, he leaves the city for a remote village where he gets a job with a mysterious pawnbroker who trades people's deepest, darkest secrets for cash.

Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarian: Brandon Sanderson: 308 pages

When he comes into the possession of a special bag of sand that has the power to transform information, Alcatraz realizes the importance of this mysterious gift when it is stolen by a group of Evil Librarians who use it to suppress truth and spread lies in order to achieve world domination.

The Specialists: Model Spy: Shannon Greenland: 206 pages

Sixteen-year-old Kelly James, a beautiful but socially awkward orphan with an IQ of 190, is recruited by a secret government spy agency to go undercover as a model and rescue the kidnapped father of the boy she has a huge crush on.

Football Genius: Tim Green: 244 pages

Troy, a student with an unusual gift for predicting football plays before they occur, attempts to use his ability to help his favorite team, the Atlanta Falcons, but he must first prove himself to the coach and players.

Remembering Raquel: Vivian Vande Velde: 137 pages
Various people recall aspects of the life of Raquel Falcone, an unpopular, overweight freshman at Quail Run High School, including classmates, her parents, and the driver who struck and killed her as she was walking home from an animated film festival.